well as I understand it... any strong use of muscles (like a swimming workout) causes a decrease in performance of the muscles that can last, believe it or not up to two weeks. You need to cut way down on the amount of time you spend workingout in the weeks before a big meet, in order to give your muscles a rest and time to repair themselves... so they will be in top shape during the event. Shaving your arms, legs and body is part of the psych-up before a big meet. It also gives you a sensation of feeling the water better and swimming faster.
Anyone else have anything to add to that? Now, that you've brought it up Dom, I've always wondered, for a man with a lot of body hair, if shaving actually reduces drag significantly / allows him to slip through the water more efficiently/with less resistance, or does it just produce the sensation of doing so?
Originally posted by laineybug
well as I understand it... any strong use of muscles (like a swimming workout) causes a decrease in performance of the muscles that can last, believe it or not up to two weeks. You need to cut way down on the amount of time you spend workingout in the weeks before a big meet, in order to give your muscles a rest and time to repair themselves... so they will be in top shape during the event. Shaving your arms, legs and body is part of the psych-up before a big meet. It also gives you a sensation of feeling the water better and swimming faster.
Anyone else have anything to add to that? Now, that you've brought it up Dom, I've always wondered, for a man with a lot of body hair, if shaving actually reduces drag significantly / allows him to slip through the water more efficiently/with less resistance, or does it just produce the sensation of doing so? Ok I got the taper. But what shaving do for you. Thanks Dom.
The shaving (as long as you are using a bladed razor not an electric) will also remove the top layer of skin (or more if you are not careful) along with the hair. Removing that layer of skin helps your nerve endings, giving a better sense/feel. If you are going to do a full shave down you should stop shaving (at least with a razor) at least a few weeks prior to the anticipated full shave down.
I think it can be statistically proven that shaving will improve your performance independent of tapering. Someone out there can probably site a study.
I shaved when I was ten. It probably did not make any difference, however I thought I was big time, so the psychological effect was profound. Shaving does work, nerve endings, less drag, who knows. If you don't believe, shave your arms for a midseason practice and see what happens. When I first hit the water after shaving I feel I can eat n-n-n-nails (apollo creed reference)
I usually swam personal bests when I shaved, but I had tapered also. It's a great experience if you've never tried it. Whether or not shaving really makes you faster is debatable.
Never got into shaving even in age group. I don't believel it makes you feel the water any better. L Val doesn't shave either from an article I read in Swim Magazine But guys have a lot more body hair than women, so it may help them feel the water better. I don't even shave my legs, because mom told me as a kid that you would have to shave all the time once you start it. However, I think that maybe children should not shave. I read reports of 9 to 10 year boys shaving in age group swimming, this I think is too young, they even have less body hair than I do and they should enjoy the sport, in my day no boy under 12 years old shaved.
